Great Ryburgh War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, with additions for later conflicts.

Reasons for Designation

Great Ryburgh War Memorial, which stands on the north side of Station Road, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* a poignant war memorial in the Classical style standing within a contemporary memorial enclosure.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Great Ryburgh as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 23 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

As early as 1917 the vicar, Reverend FH Tathum, had made enquiries about having St Thomas’ Chapel in the parish church restored by Ninian Comper, as a war memorial. When public meetings were called in May 1919 about the question of a war memorial, a Rood Screen by Comper was proposed alongside the possibility of having an obelisk in the village, or purchasing a recreation space.

By September 1920 £200 had been raised locally, and it was decided at public meetings to place a monument on a site given by Messrs F and G Smith, beside the gate that led to the football ground. The memorial pillar and iron railings were erected in 1921 at a cost of £207 5s 2d, funded by public subscription. It was recorded that the Parish Council would take responsibility for the memorial and its site. A memorial screen scheme, costing £240, was also carried through.

The names of four men who died in the Second World War, and one in the Korean War, have since been added to the memorial.

Details

The memorial is located at the north side of Station Road. It is prominently situated within a semi-circular enclosure defined by a coped flint cobble and red brick wall to the rear, with, to the front, railings carried on a low brick wall and a centrally-positioned gate. The curved rear wall ends at the pavement side in broad red brick piers with shallow pyramidal stone caps.

The monument within comprises a tall polished grey granite pillar surmounted by a moulded cap and small finial, standing on a two-stage plinth. The two-stepped base is of other materials. The moulded cap is decorated with incised foliate motifs, whilst there are incised cable and diamond patterns in bands around the top and bottom of the pillar shaft. The faces of the upper stage of the plinth are outlined in incised lines. The pillar and plinth bear the inscriptions.

The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the pillar reads IN HONOURED/ AND LOVING MEMORY/ OF THE MEN FROM/ GREAT & LITTLE/ RYBURGH & TESTERTON/ WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ AND/ 1939-1945. The commemorated First World War names are listed on the pillar sides and the upper stage of the plinth, arranged by year of death.

The four Second World War names are listed on the front faces of the plinth stages, also in year order, whilst the inscription on the east face of the upper plinth stage reads KOREA/ 1952/ (NAME).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 November 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/20039
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/138877/
St Andrew's Church, Great Ryburgh - war memorial history, accessed 21 November 2017 from http://standrewsgreatryburgh.org.uk/world-war-1-commemorations/the-think-and-thank-screen/the-quotthink-and-thankquot-screen.php

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